Don't know if this has been done before, but it's a long lockout so I decided I'd try it. I ran a lottery simulation a while back and came up with a draft order which can be seen here. The Avalanche ended up with the 1st overall pick, and I decided that instead of coming up with a mock draft myself I would have the fans of each team vote on their pick. I'll post the collective results once every fanbase has voted.
Colorado is up first, it's an open field. Who do you think the Avs should take in the 2013 draft?
Damn this is hard, it's either between Jones, MacKinnon, and Barkov. All are different in their strengths and weaknesses, but overall it's gotta be Jones.
I have a rule never go dman with #1 overall, go with the potential franchise changer, MacKinnon is the right choice.
Don't get me wrong love Seth Jones and if I didn't have the number 1 pick it would be him, but MacKinnon has to be the choice because you could always trade one of our centers then for a quality dman that is already ready.
Damn this is hard, it's either between Jones, MacKinnon, and Barkov. All are different in their strengths and weaknesses, but overall it's gotta be Jones.
E: Poll?
Didn't want to add a poll in case people felt like I was limiting their choices. Wanted this to be as organic a thing as possible. If mods feel a poll is needed go for it though
Lockout would be worth it if we got any of Mackinnon/Jones/Barkov/Drouin.. Please one of these happen (or we play the season and swap our picks with, say, calgary or toronto)
Since 1996 there have only been 2 dmen drafted #1 overall, 2006: EJ, 1996: Chris Phillips, neither has (to this point) or did live up to being the #1 pick.
You just don't take dmen #1 overall, stats will back me up on this one. I like Seth Jones a lot but he isn't worth a #1 overall pick. There is only one right answer and that is MacKinnon.
Since 1996 there have only been 2 dmen drafted #1 overall, 2006: EJ, 1996: Chris Phillips, neither has (to this point) or did live up to being the #1 pick.
You just don't take dmen #1 overall, stats will back me up on this one. I like Seth Jones a lot but he isn't worth a #1 overall pick. There is only one right answer and that is MacKinnon.
I agree with this in general, but when you look back at the pile of mediocrity that was the 1996 draft, I'd say that Phillips was probably the best pick in the first round and the perhaps the entire draft up until Chara's emergence as a franchise D half a decade later.
Since 1996 there have only been 2 dmen drafted #1 overall, 2006: EJ, 1996: Chris Phillips, neither has (to this point) or did live up to being the #1 pick.
You just don't take dmen #1 overall, stats will back me up on this one. I like Seth Jones a lot but he isn't worth a #1 overall pick. There is only one right answer and that is MacKinnon.
As long as it's your opinion based on having watched them BOTH play rather than the silly notion that 'you just don't draft d-men' with the #1 overall pick. Just because there haven't been many #1 overall D-men, it doesn't mean that it shouldn't happen. You pick the best prospect based on who will end up the best player according to your scouting assessment.
It's thankful you stopped at 1996 cuz if I was drafting in 1992, I'd probably pick Pronger (#2) ahead of eventual #1 Daigle, in hindsight.
Jovanovski in 1994 was a good pick based on the career he's had and compared to the rest of that first round. (toss up between him and Ryan Smyth)
In 1995, Berard was a decent choice based on the rest of that draft up until he had his eye accident. Iginla (#11) is the obvious 1st rounder here but that can be done for so many drafts.
There just haven't been many D-men even worthy of #1 conversation in recent years based on who else has been available for those drafts.
- Doughty is a sure-fire #1 overall if not for Stamkos.
- Hedman probably goes #1 if not for Tavares
After having seen both guys play several times, my personal preference is with Seth Jones. Don't get me wrong, I like MacKinnon a lot but I see a lot of similarities with Phil Kessel rather than ones with Crosby whereas with Jones, I see him as a mix between Erik Johnson and Drew Doughty.
As long as it's your opinion based on having watched them BOTH play rather than the silly notion that 'you just don't draft d-men' with the #1 overall pick. Just because there haven't been many #1 overall D-men, it doesn't mean that it shouldn't happen. You pick the best prospect based on who will end up the best player according to your scouting assessment.
It's thankful you stopped at 1996 cuz if I was drafting in 1992, I'd probably pick Pronger (#2) ahead of eventual #1 Daigle, in hindsight.
Jovanovski in 1994 was a good pick based on the career he's had and compared to the rest of that first round. (toss up between him and Ryan Smyth)
In 1995, Berard was a decent choice based on the rest of that draft up until he had his eye accident. Iginla (#11) is the obvious 1st rounder here but that can be done for so many drafts.
There just haven't been many D-men even worthy of #1 conversation in recent years based on who else has been available for those drafts.
- Doughty is a sure-fire #1 overall if not for Stamkos.
- Hedman probably goes #1 if not for Tavares
After having seen both guys play several times, my personal preference is with Seth Jones. Don't get me wrong, I like MacKinnon a lot but I see a lot of similarities with Phil Kessel rather than ones with Crosby whereas with Jones, I see him as a mix between Erik Johnson and Drew Doughty.
You are kind of proving my point here. The point is 9 times out of 10 the safer bet is the forward. I would take Tavares over Hedman and I'd take Stamkos over Doughty. Not saying Hedman and Doughty are bad players, the other two are just better building blocks.
I think both players are going to be real solid players, but historically speaking the best bet is to go with the forward.
